His Lordships Daughter (30 page)

He shrugged his shoulders. “I like designing things.”

S
he
frowned. “That is what you like doing Steven. What is the basic reason for your labour?”

“That’s easy. m
oney!”

“I’m glad you said that. Now I can tell you what is going to happen to your company.”

He sat upright in his bed, an apprehensive look on his face. “Say again?”

She laughed. “Don’t get excited. Everything will need your signature, not mine. If you don’t like what I have done we’ll forget it.”

“What have you done?”

“I’ve sold it!”

Pulling the sheets over his head, he pushed himself deeper into the bed. “We are talking about SG Packaging?” the muffled voice was anxious.

“What else?” she asked him, cheerfully, pulling the sheet back from over his head. “When you become my husband, you will have no time to run manufacturing companies. You will be too busy working with me.”

“Why what are we going to do?”

“Breed horses! That is if it is ok with you.” She added hastily.

He pulled himself upright again. “Thoroughbreds?”

“Yes we already have a stallion, Sultan. All we need is some good mares.”

“You are making all my dreams come true, but I am wondering what I am going to do for money. There will not be much left from the sale of the company once all the debts are paid off.” He gave her a warning look. “I don’t want yours!”

“Good because I am not offering you any.” She assured him.

Extracting a single sheet from the pile in her hand, she held it up for him to read. “Perhaps this will help.”

He
looked at the pencilled figures and gasped in astonishment. “The company isn’t worth that. I know what those machines cost and I know what the buildings cost. I bought them.”

“Nearly half the price is for the “Good will” factor.”

He laughed. “What “good will” factor?”

Phyllipa smiled. “The Kristex contract! For ever and ever. Amen!”

Pulling her towards him,
hugged
her. “Once upon a time.” He began. “I had a packaging company with a large overdraft and a small order book.” His hands tightened around her waist. “Today I have no packaging company, my overdraft has magically disappeared, and I have four point eight million pounds in the bank. “ He looked into her eyes. “English pounds?”

“Absolutely!” she studied his face intently. “As you can see I have deducted the overdraft loan which I made to you, leaving just one outstanding invoice covering the cost and rental of office furniture plus one leather armchair.”

Steven hesitated… “But I thought they were yours?”

Phyllipa nodded. “They were. But as they have now been sold with the rest of the company, I want paying for them. Nothing comes for nothing Steven, you know that.”

He ruffled his hair with his hand. “Yes O.K that’s fair enough but I’m glad you explained it to me.” He looked at her challengingly. “I can feel explanations and that one feels about right.”

“He’s encroaching on my modus operandi again.” She whispered to herself. “It will have to stop.”

“Who were the buyers?”

“Your old bank. The Imperial!”

H
e
chuckled. “Bloody
hell! You are priceless
, absolutely priceless.”

“I did a deal with their chairman.” She explained. “I had already taken a large account from him and he didn’t want any more trouble. I suppose you could call it my very first package deal!” lifting her legs on to the bed, she snuggled closer to him, kissed his mouth and nibbled playfully at his ear.

“Please Phyllipa, this is not fair.” He shifted his body, trying to move away from her. “You are taking advantage of me again.”

“I know I am.”

“My nurse may come in.”

“Three i
sn’t a crowd at this game
.”

Sighing he shook his head. “I just heard you tell your father that you wouldn’
t have anyone
with a broken leg in your bed.”

Her fingers tripped across his bared stomach. “This is not my bed!”

He groaned. “
I’m an invalid.”

“I love you.” She said, wrenching his face towards hers and covering it with kisses.

“I won’t always be laid up.”

“Promises, promises.” Pressing her body even further into his, she massaged his good leg with her own.

“As much as I would love to love you.” He muttered. “I’m pretty helpless. We proved that before.”

“We were enemies then, now we are lovers.”

“But there is nothing I can do with this leg!”

“It’s
not your leg that I am after.” S
he
w
hispered, unbuttoning his py
jama
trousers
, a wide painful smile spread
across his face
.
.
.

THE END

In loving memory of my dear
friend Stewart Vaugh
a
n,
             
             
             

             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
Brian Deville